Let there be high standards of science education and research and increasing interest and greater commitment of students for them as this would herald new changes, said IIT Bhubaneswar Director Prof RV Rajkumar while speaking at the valedictory function of the two-day 20th Science and Environment Congress on Monday.
The meet was jointly organised by the Orissa Environmental Society (OES) and the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER). NISER Director Prof Sudhakar Panda presided.
Joining the function as guest of honour, former Vice Chancellor of OUAT Omkar Nath Mohanty emphasised on qualitativeimprovement of educational institutions and research.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) Dr Debabrata Swain said new researches in science and technology should be utilized for conservation of wildlife and ecology. He sought the cooperation of the common people in the endeavour.
Earlier, convener Dr JayakrushnaPanigrahi delivered the welcome address and gave a brief idea on the programme of the day. Co-convener Dr Debasmita P Eloni introduced the guests.
NISER Director Prof Panda said society should be as much committed to science as science is committed to solve numerous social problems.
Those who presented papers included former AIIMS Bhubaneswar Director Dr Asok Kumar Mohapatra, PCCF Dr Swain, Dr Sanjay Kumar Swain and ProfAjit Mohan Srivastava of NISER, among others. The presenters of best papers were felicitated.
The speakers on the theme of the conference ‘ Science for society’ included former Professor of Utkal University Dr Niranjan Barik, former Nalco GM Dr Chitta Ranjan Mishra, NISER Reader Dr Pranaya Kumar Swain and scientist Rajiv Swain.
The two-day meet which had begun at NISER was joined by over 500 scientists, researchers, teachers and students from the State and outside.